South Africa has seen its fair share of footballing talents over recent decades. The Rainbow Nation made its first appearance at the FIFA World Cup in 1998, with more appearances coming in 2002, 2010 and 2026, with the 2010 edition being their most famous, when they became the first African nation to host a World Cup.

Bafana Bafana picked up their one and only major honour in 1996 when they hosted and won the African Cup of Nations, downing Tunisia 2-0 in the final. Since then, the side have finished as runner-up once and third place twice in 2000 and 2023. Those national milestones have been achieved by some superb players, including many Champions League and domestic league winners.

With that in mind, here are the greatest players to don the famous yellow South Africa jersey.

18

Bernard Parker

International Career: 2007-2015

John Sibley via Action Images

Bernard Parker is remembered as one of South Africa’s most reliable attacking players. Capable of playing as a striker, winger or attacking midfielder, he enjoyed successful spells both at home and abroad.

After impressing in South Africa, he moved to Europe with FC Twente, where he was part of the squad that won the Eredivisie title and the Dutch Super Cup. Parker later returned home and became a key player for Kaizer Chiefs, chipping in with goals over the course of the next decade. He represented his country at the 2010 World Cup, earning more than 70 caps, and was the hero in one of South Africa’s most memorable matches in 2013, with his goal being the difference in a win over the reigning world champions, Spain.

17

Teko Modise

International Career: 2007-2012

Teko Modise as one of the best players to ever play in the South African Premiership, winning PSL Footballer of the year twice in consecutive years. He made his name with Orlando Pirates before going on to enjoy further success with Mamelodi Sundowns.

Internationally, he represented South Africa at the 2010 World Cup and was a key creative force in his seven years with the national team. His elegance on the ball and ability to dictate matches made him a fan favourite, to the point where his fans didn’t believe him when he’d announced his retirement.

16

Delron Buckley

International Career: 1998-2012

Andrew Couldridge via Action Images

A European career as long as Delron Buckley’s is rare among South African footballers, especially during the ’90s and early 2000s. Having left his homeland at a young age, he built his name in Germany, where he spent the bulk of his career and became a respected figure in the Bundesliga.

His most productive spell came at Arminia Bielefeld, where he had 21 goal involvements in 34 matches in all competitions. This form caught the eye of a certain Borussia Dortmund, but he couldn’t produce the same magic. He later added spells in Switzerland and Cyprus before finishing his career in South Africa. Buckley won more than 70 caps for South Africa and played at two World Cups.

15

Neil Tovey

International Career: 1992-1997

Captaincy during one of the most important periods in South African football history fell to Neil Tovey, and he carried it well. A commanding centre-back and natural leader, he played a crucial role in Bafana Bafana’s triumph at the 1996 African Cup of Nations, the country’s first major international trophy after readmission to FIFA in 1992.

Like many on this list, Tovey spent much of his club career with Kaizer Chiefs, where his defensive reliability and leadership qualities made him one of the club’s most influential players. He never played in one of Europe’s major leagues, but his impact on South African football was immense all the same.

14

Itumeleng Khune

International Career: 2008-2020

Dylan Martinez via Reuters

Goalkeeping in South Africa had a face for much of the 21st century, and it belonged to Itumeleng Khune. He was one-club man with Kaizer Chiefs and enjoyed a career spanning two decades, becoming one of the most decorated players in the club’s history, winning the league three times and being voted the PSL Footballer of the Year in 2013.

On the international stage, Khune earned more than 90 caps for Bafana Bafana and represented his country at the 2010 World Cup on home soil. His longevity and consistency made him one of the most respected figures in South African football and a role model for African goalkeepers coming up behind him.

13

Siphiwe Tshabalala

International career: 2006-2017

Known perhaps for one of the most iconic World Cup moments produced by a host nation, Siphiwe Tshabalala burst onto the global scene in 2010. In the opening contest of the first-ever World Cup held in Africa, the winger produced a moment of magic, blasting his strike into the top corner against Mexico to send the Johannesburg crowd crazy – with Peter Drury giving the goal the credit it deserved with some unforgettable commentary.

The Soweto-born star netted another 11 goals for his nation in 90 caps. At club level, Tshabalala played the majority of his career at Kaizer Chiefs, racking up more than 300 appearances and winning two league titles in 2013 and 2015 respectively.

12

Quinton Fortune

International career: 1996-2005

Having started in the Tottenham Hotspur academy, Quinton Fortune went to have stints at Mallorca and Atletico Madrid before being signed by Sir Alex Ferguson and his treble-winning Manchester United side in 1999. Fortune went on to play 126 times for the Red Devils, scoring 10 goals and creating seven assists in the process.

Fortune made 46 appearances for his nation with his first coming in 1996. He turned out at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, scoring in the later in a 2-2 draw with Paraguay as well as setting up the winner against Slovenia in Daegu.

11

Doctor Khumalo

International career: 1992-2001

When your name is Doctor, you’ve got to have confidence in your own abilities and that’s exactly what Doctor Khumalo had. The central midfielder was selected for South Africa’s first official international fixture following their readmittance back into FIFA in 1992. The Kaizer Chiefs legend was a key part of the famous 1996 South Africa side that won the Africa Cup of Nations. He also represented Bafana Bafana at the World Cup in 2002.

A great reader of the game and known for his passing ability, Doctor also brought his talents to the USA, playing a season for Colombus Crew where he scored five goals in 43 appearances. He is now a technical director for South African side Baroka.

10

Phil Masinga

International career: 1992-2001

Known affectionately as ‘Chippa’, the late Phil Masinga is our first player on the list to play in England. The forward joined Leeds United from Mamelodi Sundowns in 1994, which also saw Lucas Radebe join the Premier League club. In two years in England, Masinga scored nine goals, including a hat-trick in the FA Cup against Walsall.

It was perhaps his international career that stood out more. Part of the famous 1996 winning side, Masinga scored Bafana Bafana’s first goals in AFCON history in a 3-0 win over Cameroon. The forward also scored the decisive goal in a qualification match vs DR Congo, which sent South Africa to the World Cup for the first time in 1998.

9

Aaron Mokoena

International career: 1999-2010

South Africa’s all-time leading appearance maker, midfielder Aaron Mokoena is a hero for his nation. He captained Bafana Bafana for the opening match of the 2010 World Cup against Mexico, becoming the first African to captain a host nation at a World Cup. In total, Mokoena played 107 times for his nation between 1999 and 2010, also turning out for the South African Olympics side in 2000 in Sydney.

In his club career, Mokoena’s was part of the Bayer Leverkusen academy before joining Ajax where he played eight times. He then moved to the Premier League via Belgium, signing for Blackburn Rovers and making 139 appearances. He then joined Portsmouth as he helped the south coast side reach the FA Cup final in 2010.

Jake Paul knows a thing or two about creating controversy, having been in the celebrity spotlight for nearly a decade. After making his name on social media, The Problem Child made his way into the sports world by becoming a “professional” boxer.

In truth, Paul is not considered by many to have a great deal of talent between the ropes, but that didn’t stop him from featuring in one of the most lucrative bouts of all time when he defeated heavyweight legend Mike Tyson in 2024. If that wasn’t enough, he then followed that fight up with a bout against British heavyweight Anthony Joshua at the end of last year, which ended with him sustaining a broken jaw in numerous places.

The 29-year-old, who really isn’t afraid to speak his mind, once savaged big names from a number of sports as he revealed his list of the 10 most overrated athletes of all time. As Paul shared his picks, he had a massive smile on his face, so it remains to be seen just how serious he was about his selections. Here is a look at all 10 stars who Paul believes get more credit than they are due.

Babe Ruth

Seven-time World Series winner

Paul certainly came straight out of the gate with a big name, stating that the widely-considered greatest icon in baseball history was “overrated.”

Ruth won the World Series on seven of the 10 occasions he participated in the sport’s showpiece event and hit a staggering 714 home runs in his career. A Hall of Famer who is beloved for the way in which he revolutionised the game, Paul will likely find little support for his criticism of Ruth’s place in history.

Trevor Lawrence

Picked first overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2021 NFL Draft

Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports

Paul might be closer to the mark with his second pick, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, with his career blighted by inconsistent form and injury problems.

Despite leading the team to a playoff win and the AFC South title in 2022, many feel that Lawrence has fallen well short of his potential. Paul branded the 26-year-old as “overrated and overpaid”, referring to his mammoth contract that sees him earning $55 million a year.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Five-time Ballon d’Or winner

Paul clearly knew his selection of the Portuguese superstar would be controversial, as he stated, “This one is gonna p*** off a lot of people!”

While the eternal debate over whether he is better than Argentine superstar Lionel Messi is destined never to be settled, Ronaldo‘s longevity at the top of the game is a major reason why his fans consider him to be the best to ever step foot onto the pitch.

While Paul is entitled to his personal opinion, it’s hard not to see Ronaldo’s inclusion as an attempt to stir up attention.

Ryan Garcia

Former WBC interim lightweight champion

The first boxer to make Paul’s list of “overrated” stars is polarising American, Ryan Garcia.

The California-native looked to be establishing himself as one of the top fighters on the planet before losing bouts to Gervonta Davis and Rolly Romero. Even after appearing to score the biggest win of his career against Devin Haney, Garcia tested positive for the banned substance Ostarine – and was stripped of his victory.

While it may be harsh to call him overrated, King Ryan certainly hasn’t lived up to some of the hype that surrounded him.

Conor McGregor

Former two-weight UFC champion

It’s no major surprise to see Paul name McGregor on his list. Despite not having fought in the UFC for five years, the Irishman remains vocal on social media – and is also a part-owner of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.

Although McGregor is the biggest name in UFC history, he hasn’t actually won a fight for more than five years. Among a host of other names, the Irishman has teased an eventual bout with Paul – should he ever return to professional fighting.

Dak Prescott

Dallas Cowboys quarterback

Turning his attention back to the NFL, Paul took a swipe at “insanely overrated” Dallas Cowboys quarterback, Dak Prescott.

His 2024 season in Dallas was nothing short of disastrous, with the team going 7-10 overall. As controversial as many of Paul’s picks are, Prescott may not be one of them.

Anthony Edwards

Minnesota Timberwolves Shooting Guard

One of the more harsh calls on Paul’s list, Edwards has already achieved plenty in the sport at the age of only 24. The youngest player to ever hit 40+ points in a playoff game, Edwards set a record for single-season three-pointers in 2024-25, when he hit 308 for the Timberwolves.

A 2024 Olympic gold medal winner with the USA, Edwards looks set to have a bright future – and Jake could well regret calling Ant-Man overrated in years to come.

Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez

Four-weight boxing world champion

Paul has been outspoken about how little regard he has for the abilities of Canelo in the past – and so it’s no shock to see his name here.

The pair were reportedly set to fight in May of last year, before the Mexican hero pulled out to sign a multi-bout agreement under the Riyadh Season banner. Saudi Arabian boxing boss Turki Alalshikh insists he has no interest in making the fight, but it remains to be seen if Paul and Alvarez will ever settle their differences in the ring.

Tua Tagovailoa

Atlanta Falcons quarterback

Paul is clearly not a fan of NFL quarterbacks! This time, Atlanta Falcons’ Tagovailoa is in the firing line. The 28-year-old has consistently shown promise when on the field, and was listed by his fellow players as being one of the top 100 NFL stars in 2023. Unfortunately for Tagovailoa, he has had a number of injury problems, including a lengthy injury due to a concussion that he picked up in a collision on the field.

Anthony Joshua

Former two-time world heavyweight champion

Possibly the most ambitious call-out of Paul’s outlandish boxing career, the social media sensation continually insisted that he would get the better of AJ if the two ever shared the ring. As we know now, that was, to no surprise, cap, as Paul was battered and bruised by Joshua in a very comfortable knockout victory back in December 2025.

However, with Paul picking his 10 most overrated athletes of all time before sharing the ring with Joshua, maybe he’s changed his mind since… we doubt it though!

Czech footballers have a rich footballing heritage and their influence has been felt across many European domestic leagues. The Czech Republic or Czechia, as it is also known, as well as the former Czechoslovakia, prior to the division of the Czech and Slovak Federative Republic (CSFR) in 1993, have a proud history when it comes to football.
As a nation, the Czechs have won the same number of international honours as the Netherlands and England, playing in one more World Cup final than the latter. Over the last few decades, Czech players have featured in some of the best and most successful teams in Europe.

The 3 most common MISTAKES young players make

Below is a list of the 15 best players to have come from the nation.

small

Related

25 Greatest German Players in Football History [Ranked]

Mesut Ozil, Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Muller and Manuel Neuer are among the greatest German footballers ever.

Vladimir Smicer

Career Span: 1992-2009

Vladimir Smicer is one of the more decorated players that his country produced, winning 11 trophies at club level. He represented the Czech Republic at multiple major tournaments and played a role in the side that reached the final of Euro ’96. Liverpool became the defining club of his career, with six years on Merseyside.
Despite representing his country in two major tournaments, the best moment of his career came in a Liverpool shirt. Smicer played a starring role in the famous 2005 Champions League final, scoring the Reds’ second goal in their astonishing comeback against AC Milan before calmly converting his penalty in the shootout that sealed the match, and the title.

International Stats
Caps	80
Goals	27

Patrik Schick

Career Span: 2014-Present

Goals and big moments have seen Patrik Schick rise to become the standout figure of Czech football’s current generation, and he’s the only active player that features on this list. After developing in his homeland before struggling in Serie A, prolific spells at RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen then followed, where he’s averaging more than a goal every two matches in all competitions. Schick was also part of Leverkusen’s incredible unbeaten Bundesliga winning season under Xabi Alonso.
Euro 2020 took his reputation to another level, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer and producing the Goal of the Tournament with a magnificent strike from the half-way line against Scotland. After more than a half-century of caps, he remains the focal point of the Czech national team as his career continues to grow.

Patrik Berger

Career Span: 1991-2010

Patrik Berger’s long hair and rocket-like left foot made him one of the most recognisable Czech players of the late 1990s and early 2000s. His display at Euro ’96, where he scored in the final against Germany, was enough to convince Liverpool to bring him to Anfield from Borussia Dortmund, and he quickly became a fan favourite there, so much so that he elected to retire from international football at just 28 to focus on playing for his club.
Berger was part of the side that won a remarkable cup treble in 2001 and racked up plenty of memorable goals along the way. Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard called him “the best left-footed striker of a ball I have seen,” tall praise from someone who wasn’t afraid of a screamer or two himself.

International Stats
Caps	42
Goals	18

Tomas Ujfalusi

Career Span: 1996-2014

Reliability was the hallmark of Tomas Ujfalusi’s career, and it made him one of Czech football’s most important figures during the 2000s. Comfortable at both centre-back and right-back, he built a strong reputation in Europe with Hamburg, Fiorentina and Atletico Madrid. After winning the Europa League and UEFA Super Cup at Atletico, he tasted more domestic success with Galatasaray, where he won the first league title of his career.
He won more than 75 caps for his country and played a major role in the side that reached the semi-finals of Euro 2004. Ujfalusi never attracted the same headlines as the team’s attacking stars, but his defensive quality made him just as vital to his nation.

11

Milan Baros

Career span: 1998-2020

Like Vladimir Smicer, Milan Baros was part of the Liverpool team that overcame a three-goal deficit against AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League final to eventually win on penalties. He was also the top scorer in Euro 2004, a tournament the Czechs lost in the semi-finals to eventual winners Greece.

In a long and distinguished career with the national side, Baros scored 41 goals in 95 internationals. In a career which spanned 22 years, Baros finished his career with 11 major trophies and 177 goals in all club competitions. The forward may not have been the most clinical striker the world has ever seen, but he played a bigger part in all the teams he featured for. Whether it be his tireless work rate or underrated hold-up play, Baros was always involved.

10

Miroslav Kadlec

Career span: 1983-2002

Defender Miroslav Kadlec spent the vast majority of the 1990s at Kaiserslautern, where he won two Bundesliga titles in 1991 and 1998. Blessed with a sweet strike, he was also responsible for the penalty kick that took the Czechs to the final of Euro ’96, their first major final as the Czech Republic.

Kadlec slotted home the sixth penalty of the shootout at Old Trafford to take down a France side that would go on to win the World Cup just two years later. He is the only defender to feature on this list, proving just how rare it was for the nation to produce such a talented player in the backline.

9

Antonin Puc

Career span: 1925-1941

Antonin Puc was a prolific striker who scored 34 times in 63 appearances for the Czechoslovakian national side. This included the opening goal of the 1934 World Cup Final against Italy. It was a late equaliser that saw the match go to extra-time, although the Italians eventually won 2-1.

He was also a goal machine at club level for Slavia Prague, playing in European competition regularly in the Mitropa Cup, a continental club tournament that predates the Champions League as we know it. Puc held the record for most goals for his country until 2005 when Jan Koller surpassed his tally.

8

Karel Poborsky

Career span: 1991-2007

Right-winger Karel Poborsky was an extremely tricky customer, who plied his trade for European giants, including Benfica, Lazio and Manchester United, for whom he won the Premier League. But it is arguably for the national team that he is best known.

Poborsky is his nation’s second all-time appearance maker, playing for the Czechs in three European Championships. Poborsky was instrumental in helping the nation reach the final of Euro ’96, scoring a memorable lob to defeat Portugal. Despite ending up on the losing side, Poborsky was named Man of the Match in the Euro ’96 final against Germany. That’s quite some achievement to boast.

7

Jan Koller

Career span: 1994-2011

At six foot eight, there was no mistaking talismanic striker Jan Koller. While defenders couldn’t help but notice him, they could rarely stop him. He remains the Czech Republic’s all-time top scorer with 55 goals in 91 games.

Although extremely powerful in the air, Koller was adept with his feet too, scoring all manner of goals as demonstrated during his five years at Borussia Dortmund. He won the Bundesliga during that five-year spell, netting 79 goals and contributing 32 assists.

6

Oldrich Nejedly

Career span: 1924-1956

Oldrich Nejedly cemented his name into Czech footballing history when he scored a hat-trick in the nation’s 3-1 win over Germany in the 1934 World Cup semi-final. He would finish the tournament as top scorer with five goals and would go on to score 28 international goals in just 44 appearances.

Nejedly made a habit of scoring crucial goals, scoring the equaliser in the quarter-finals of the 1938 World Cup against Brazil, in what was known as the battle of Bordeaux. Sadly, Nejedly broke his leg as two Brazilians were sent off during the contest.

5

Tomas Rosicky

Career Span: 1998-2017

Elegance and technical brilliance defined Tomas Rosicky’s game, earning him the nickname “Little Mozart” for his creativity and vision. He made his name at Sparta Prague before moving to Borussia Dortmund, where he won the Bundesliga title and grew into one of Europe’s most exciting attacking midfielders. A £7 million switch to Arsenal followed, bringing flashes of real quality even though injuries frequently got in the way during his time in England.

For his country, Rosicky was the heartbeat of the Czech side for well over a decade, first appearing at Euro 2000 and helping them reach the semi-finals of Euro 2004. Shortly after representing his country in the 2006 World Cup, he was named captain following Pavel Nedved’s retirement, but missed Euro 2008 through injury. However he did lead his side out twice at a major tournament in 2012 and 2016. Rosicky holds a unique record as the oldest, and youngest player to represent his country at a World Cup or European Championship, racking up 105 caps from the ages of 19 to 35.

4

Josef Masopust

Career span: 1950-1970

Josef Masopust spent the vast majority of his career at Dukla Prague and was a key part of the Czechoslovakian side that made the 1962 World Cup final. The midfielder played an integral part in helping his country make the final where they faced Brazil in Santiago.

Unfotunately, his team would be on the losing side despite Masopust opening the scoring. Brazil would fight back to win the World Cup. Nevertheless, Masopust’s form that year saw him beat Eusebio to win the 1962 Ballon d’Or and cement his place in the history of the game.

3

Antonin Panenka

Career span: 1967-1993

Antonin Panenka’s name will forever be etched into football history courtesy of his penalty that gave the Czech’s the European Championship trophy in 1976. With the final against west Germany ending 2-2, penalties would decide the outcome of the tournament for the first time.

Panenka was the final penalty taker and with the trophy on the line, chipped the ball down the middle of the goal past a diving Sepp Maier to win the Euros. Few Czech players will leave a legacy on the game quite like Panenka. Many football fans will even know his name without being aware it’s associated with the player himself, that’s an ever-lasting legacy.

2

Petr Cech

Career span: 1999-2019

Petr Cech dominated the penalty area at Stamford Bridge for more than a decade after making his Chelsea debut in 2004. He holds the Premier League record for the most clean sheets, with 202. Nobody has made more appearances for the international team, amassing 124 caps. A collision against Reading in 2006 left Cech needing two metal plates fitted on his skull, resulting in him wearing a head-guard for the rest of his career.

A hugely authoritative, yet composed figure, his long spell in west London was littered with trophies, including four Premier League titles and the 2012 Champions League, which saw Cech save Arjen Robben’s penalty in normal time and two spot kicks in the shoot-out on a historic night in Munich.